Elevator door



R. S. PEELLE ELEVATORiDOOR June 17, 1930.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 Filed April 14, 1927 QM XM TORNEY June 17, 1930.. R, a PEELLE, 1,763,860

ELEVATOR DOOR Filed April 14,- 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 34 I In 29 37 67 U a 10 Z4 I H as I 9 5 ,33

,Z; ATTORNEY Patented June 17, 1930 I UNITED] STATES I PATENT OFFICE nonnm: s. PEELLE, on NEW YORK, N. Y),

anooxmm, NEW roan, a conro'rron or new YORK A SSIGNOIB, TO THE PEELLE COMPANY, OI

, ELEVATOR, noon Application "a'lea rpm 1%,

My invention relates to improvements in elevator doors, and more particularly to elevator doors of the full automatic type.

Elevator'do'ors of the type to which my in 5 vention relates, are usually composed of two sections movable in opposite directions in the same vertical plane; inparallel vertical planes, or from one vertical plane to another as in pass type doors. The doors are mounted upon a rail structure within and adin the shaft and are equipped withblocks or other contact members engageable with the under side of each hanger bar so that with the downward movement of said cables or rods any door in the shaft, which is free to have an opening movement, will by reason of the over-weighting of the lower section and its descent with the cable or rod, beopened, all other doors in the shaft remaining closed. Since the two sections of the door are connected by flexible means passing over sheaves, the upper door section will be raised as the lower section descends.

In the actuating mechanism of full automatic elevator doors to which my. invention relates, it has heretofore been the practice to use a motor, either hydraulic or electric, actuating the cablesor rods for a predetermined distance, and when the electric motor was used, to provide automatically acting electrical limit stops for controlling the direction of rotation of the motor and for interrupting the circuit to the motor when the cables or rods have run a fixed, predetermined distance. In the event of stretching of any part of the cable or rod mechanism, the blocks co-operating with the hanger bars will recede therefrom, to a variable extent, and sometimes there will-be a difference in the extent of elongation of the cables or. rods upon opposite sides of the doors, and' thus occasion 1927. Serial No. 183,648.

tilting of the door particularly during the I there may be variance in the adjustment of any block in relation to its hanger bar and still permit the closing of any door in the. shaft irrespective of this lack of uniformity in the adjustment of the blocks, neverthelessthe conditions are such that an increasing load occurs upon the motor at substantially all times toward the final stage of the closing movement of the door, except when there is a perfect adjustment of the blocks. This is due to the fact that while the door which is being closed is having movement, the springs at all other doors may be excessively tensioned, and the full load of one or more door structures in its or their entirety comes upon the cables or rods' and is transmitted therethrough to the motor.

With the above conditions in mind, I have devised a full automatic elevator door wherein the motor will have a variable operative effect upon the actuating cables or rods according to requirements of any door being closed, and the overloading of the motor toward the end of the closing movement of any door will be prevented.

. In a door embodying my .invention, the automatically acting brake mechanism, and even the limit stops, may be dispensed with if desired, although I prefer to employ .a

limit stop mechanism, particularly when the doors are used with an elevator installation employing a micro-mechanism which, in adtion preferably is such that any loss of adjustment of the blocks upon the cables or rods upon opposite sides of the-door will be compensated by an automatic adjustment of the cables or rods upon opposite sides of the door. Furthermore elongatlon of the cables or rods when limit stop mechanisms are used will. be automatically minimized as to the limit stop mechanism so as to avoid the necessity, except in extreme cases, for adjustment of the cable, the blocks, or the limit stop mechanism.

In an elevator door embodying the invention, not only is the installation simplified and chea pened, but maintenance is reduced to a minimum as the result of the automatic adj ustments above referred to, which permit continued operation over long intervals wlthout attention.

The invention consists primarily in an elevator door embodying therein a vertically movable section, counterbalancing means cooperating therewith, said section being overweighted in relation to said counterbalancing means, and means whereby said section may be locked when in the closed position, in combination with cables or rods on opposite sides of said door section, co-operating means carried by said cables or rods and said door section, whereby with the movement of said cables or rods in one direction when said looking mechanism is released, said section may have opening movement therewith, and movement of said cables or rods in the opposite direction will impart closing movement to said section, a counterweight operative upon said cables or rods, a motor driven friction device acting upon said cables or rods, and guides for said rods intermediate said counterweight and said door section or cables intermediate said friction device and said counterweight, and intermediate said device and said door section, whereby differential pressure upon said cable or rod on opposite sides ofsaid friction device will make said device inoperative to impart further movement to said cables or rods; and in such other novel'- features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a schematic elevation of a plurality of counterbalanced elevator doors and an actuatingmechanism therefor embodying my invention, the doors being condensed vertically and laterally;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the friction mechanism with a portion of the cables IGIEIOVGd to disclose the actuating members; an

Fig. 4 is a detailed enlarged view of the operative connections between the downwardly movable door section and a cable or rod.

1,7es,aoo

tion with an elevator door installation of the two-section, counterbalanced type in which the upper section 10 of the door moves upwardly, and 'the lower section 11 moves downwardly. The section 10 has a counterbalancing action, the section 11 being connected therewith by means of the usual chain and sheave connections 12 at opposite sides of the door. The sections 10 and 11 have movement in the same vertical plane upon track structures 13 mounted within an elevator shaft adjacent the opposite j ambs of each door. The lower section 11 is overweighted in relation to the section 10 so that the door in its entirety will have a normal tendency to open.

The two sections are held in the closed position by means of any suitable locking mechanism 14, that shown in the drawings being of what is known as the limit stop type consisting of. bars 14 pivoted to each rail structure 13 and engageable with the usual hanger bar 15 upon the lower door section 11. The detailed construction of the locking mechanism is immaterial to the present invention, being of a common and well known type. Furthermore, any desired form of locking mechanism may be employed.

The rails 13 extend the full height of all door openings'in an elevator shaft from adjacent the top to adjacent the bottom of the shaft, and all doors in the shaft have movement upon these rail structures. The construction of the rails or guides will vary with different types of doors, that shown in the drawings being the construction commonly used with counterbalanced doors.

In the drawings, doors adjacent two door positioned as to permit lthe full opening movement of the door, and ordinarily to arrest the door with the top of the truck bar substantially flush with the sill of the door opening. This construction, except as to the stopping of the door, is immaterial to my present invention. a

The general construction and arangement of parts above described is old and well known in this art, my invention relating more particularly to the use with such a mechanism, or an analogous mechanism, of an actuating mechanism by which any door in a shaft may be automatically 0 ened by means of a power mechanism, roviding the elevator car is at the floor o the opening i which is closed by said-door, all other doors in the shaft remaining closed. This mech-.

anism is also used for closing the door by power. the art, except as to those features thereof by which, irrespective of the control 'of the application of power to an eleptric motor, the means co-operating with any door Will cease to be operative immediately upon the completion of the full opening, or the full closing, movement thereof.

The actuating means comprise cables or rods 17 and 18 extending vertically of the shaft at opposite sides of the various doors therein, so as to be common to all doors in the shaft. At least some portion of these cables or rods, such as the upper ends 19 and 20 thereof, have to be highly flexible although to minimize stretch as much as possible, the remainder thereofmay consist of non-flexible material of any desired construction. The end of each cable or rod is provided with a weight 21-22 to minimize swaying thereof. Cooperating means, such as brackets 23,

upon opposite sides of the hanger bar of each door, and blocks 24 secured to the cables or rods 17 and 18, with coil springs 25 interposed'between each block and each bracket, are provided so that whenthe-lock of any door is released the lower section of that door may have opening movement as determined by the movement of the cables or rods 17-18 in one direction, and movement of said cables or rods in the opposite direction will impart closing movement to said section. The springs 25 which will vary in length and tension according to the overload or overweight of the lower section, are provided to compensate for variance'in, or loss of, adjustment in any block- 24 due to lack of precision in installation' or in-stretch ,of the cables or rods as continued use or from any other reason. With the springs 25 it-is apparent that any length of closing movement required by some particular door in excess of that required in other doors will be compen sated for by the tensioning of the springs at the other doors, and that the additional load placed upon the cables as the result of this condition-will therefore be represented by the cumulative stresses resulting from the compression of the springs, so that the dead load of any door, in its entirety, will not come upon the cables until the door having closing movement has been fully closed.

The cables or rods 17 and 18 are acted upon by a counter-balancing weight 26 approximating the difference in weight between the two sections of any door and the resistance to the movement of the cables or rods developed by the tensioning of the. different springs 25 throughout the shaft.

The flexible portions 19 and 20 of the cables or rods are acted upon by a motor driven friction device, the operative effect This is also old and well known in,

desired relation of the blocks 24 and the fittings 23 upon the several hanger bars upon opposite sides of each door. From the guide pulley 27 the flexible section 19 passes over a guide pulley 29. adjacent the pulley 28. Each section 19 and 20 has a bight formed therein enclosing or passing about pinch groove pulleys 30 and 31 respectively, which pulleys are carried-by a shaft 32 driven in any desired manneras by a speed reducing mechanism .33 and the electric motor 341 The flexible portions 19 and 20 of the cables pass from the pulleys 30--31 over guide pulleys 35 and 36 to the counterbalancing weight 26. This weight 26 is preferably guided in its travel by any desired'mechanism such as the guide 3 I The pulleys 30 and 31, as long as'the cables or rod sections 19 and 20 are subjected to a substantially continuous pressure or tension, upon opposites sides thereof,-will frictionally engage the cable or rods and impart movement thereto and to the counterweight 26, and any door section being closed when the motor 34 is giving a directional movement to said pulleys, which will take up the cables or rods between same and the door section,

and pay it out between same and towards the counterbalance. The converse condition is true with the reverse actuation of the motor, since immediately with' the release of the locking mechanism of any door and the movement of the cables or rods upon opposite sides thereof, the load represented by the overweight of the lower section will come upon the cables or rods so that the opening movement of the door is controlled from the friction d ice, the pulleys 30 and 31, notwithstanding that the actual opening movement of the door results from the overweight of one section therefrom with relation to the other.

Withany substantial differential in the load upon the cables or rods upon opposite sides of the friction device, this device will immediately cease to impart movement. to the cables or rods as the result of slippage between the cables or rods and said device, and

irrespective of the control of the power be' ing applied to the motor. This condition will be more fully referred to hereinafter.

To facilitate the installation of the door opening equipment, and, if desired, to permit an automatic readjustment of parts while. the equipment is'in use, I rovide the counterweight 26 with an eye olt or any other suitable device 38 permitting a run of the flexible sections 19 and 20 in relation to said counterweight, so that this counterweight will have an equalizing effect upon the cables or rods which will correct any loss of adjustment resulting from stretch in said cables or rods or a loss of adjustment of the blocks 24 upon one cable or rod in relation to one side of the various doors in a shaft.

In order to avoid unnecessary slippage between the cable or rod sections 19 and 20 and the friction device, the pinch groove pulleys 30 and 31, I preferably employ electrical limit stops 39 and 40 mounted adjacent the ends of the run of the counterweight 26, and provide this counterweight with an impact member 41 in engageable relation with said limit stops respectively, These limit stops are used, however, merely to avoid application of power to the motor beyond that re- I l o qulred for a full openlng or closing movement of a door and to ensure the application of power to the motor in a manner to ensure the turning of the friction devices in that direction, which is required by the condition of any door in a shaft which it is desired to open or close. So far as the overloading of the motor is prevented, this is taken care of solely by the friction device operative upon the cables or rods. These devices also ensure a complete stoppage of the application of power to the cables or rods when a door has reached either the fully open or the fully closed position. By means of a mechanism as above described, the run of cables or rods is determined not by the operative interval of the electric motor, but by the completion of the opening or closing of the door. Hence, the power mechanism used for opening and closing the doors need not be so constructed as to ensure a substantially accurate run of the cables or rods, and no means need be employed for interrupting) the application of power to, or to apply a raking action upon, the motor at the end of a definite length of run of the cables or rods.

Preferably, I provide a stop mechanism 42 engageable by the counterbalancing weight 26 at the limit of its downward run to relieve the cables or rods from the load of this weight. Thisstop, however, is not necessary because, in the event of a continued application of power to thecables or rods after a door has reached the full closed position, even if there'be afailure of the weight to be stopped in its downward movement at this point, there will be a tendency toward further movement of the lower door section which will result in the full load of bothdoor sections coming upon the cables or rods. The weight of both door sections may approximate from one-half to three-quarters of a ton 1,7ea,eco

and the differential of wei ht between the two sections and the tension 0 various springs 25 may normally be from about one hundred to one hundred and fifty pounds. This will result in the slippage above referred to between the friction devices and the cables or rods.

In the accompanying drawings, I haveshown a conventional electrical diagram including a push button control 43, which may be located in the elevator car or at any other desired point, the circuit controlled by this switch 43 including therein the motor 34 and the limit switches 39 and 40 according-to whether the door is open or closed.

The operation of the herein described mechanism is substantially as follows In the accompanying drawings the various parts are not shown in the proper scale relation and the position of the motor and parts appurtenant thereto should be at a higher elevation in regard to the door structure. This, however, is unnecessary to an understanding of the invention.

In the drawings, two elevator doors of a series are shown, each of the doors being in the closed position with the lock mechanism set as to each door. It will be observed that with the doors in the closed position, all of the springs 25 will be held by the blocks 24 in engaging relation with the respective hanger bars 15, so that the actuating mechanism supplements the locking mechanism in maintaining all the doors in the shaft closed. It is preferable, during the installation of an elevator door equipment, to place all of the springs under tension with all of the doors in the closed position, and to proportion the weight 26 accordingly. The springs 25 are ordinarily six to seven inches long, and the amplunt of such compression is about one 1110 When so compressed, these springs will automatically take up any stretch of the rods or cables or loss of adjustment in the blocks. The springs are of a normal tension to overcome the differential of weight between the two door sections.

If a sto mechanism 42 be used, it is obvious that t iere will be no load upon the cables or rods upon either side of the friction device 30-31 when the doors are fully closed, since any tension in the springs 25, the weight of the rods or cables 17 and 18 and the weights 2122, is more than counterbalanced by that of the weight 26. This condition, however, is not essential, since the stop 42 may be dispensed with without interfering with the operation of the mechanism or subjecting the cables or rods to breaking strains, owin to the fact that the tendency of any lower oor section to overrun is arrested by the upper door section, which in itself may move with the lower section. Overrunning of any door section will result in a progressively increased load through the springs 25, which will develop that overbalancing or differential of loads necessary to ensure slippage at the friction device.

If limit stops be used, the stop 39 at the upper end of the run of the counterweight, will permit the closing of a circuit to the motor soas to impart a contra-clockwise movement through the pulleys 30 and 31, and the lower limit switch 40 will be opened so as to prevent application-of the power to themotor to cause the turning of said pulleys in the opposite, or clockwise, direction.

When the elevator car is at any floor of a building, the operator may release the lock of the door at that floor, which will immediately place the load of the differential in weight of the two sections of the door, upon the cables or rods 17 and 18 at opposite sides of the door. Hence, with the closing of the circuit to the motor 34 and the resulting contra-clockwise movement of the pulleys 30 and 31, the blocks 21 and spring 25 will descend not only in relation to the door which is to be opened, but in relation to all other doors in the shaft. This movement of the cables or rods results from the friction between the parts '19 and of same and the pulleys 30 and 31 respectively, as the result of the load of the door section transmitted to said cables or rods through the springs and blocks 24' Immediately with the starting of the openingjmovement of the door, the load of the counterbalancing weight 26 will comeupon the length of the cable bet-ween the same and the pulleys 30 and 31 so that there will be acontinued movement of the door without slippage between the sections 19 and 20 and the said pulleys 30 and 31. As the door reaches its fully open position, the hanger bar 15 engages the stops 16 at opposite sides of the door opening, thus relieving the cables or rods between the door section and the pulleys 30 and 31 from the load of the door section, so that a continued rotation of said pulleys will be accompanied by slippage between the same and. the portions 19 and 20 of the cables or rods, thus automatically arresting further movement of the counterbalancing weight 26,.since any tendency of the pulleys 30-31 to further pay out the cables or rods will be counteracted by the preponderating weight of this counterbalancing weight. WVhen the limit stop 39 is used, engagement of the member 41 carried by the weight 26 with the co-operating portion of this stop will automatically interrupt the current to the motor. Mechanical stoppage of the motor is not requlred, since even if-it should overrun, the only result would be slippage at the friction devices.

Ordinarily, however, the switch 43 requires that the operator shall hold the switch in the closed position during the full opening movement of the door, and when the door is fully open, the operator,-by releasing the When it is desired to close the door, the switch 43 is actuated to close the circuit to the motor 34, to cause the turning of this motor in the opposite direction, and the reversal of the direction of the rotation of the pulleys 30 and 31. When said pulleys are thus turned clock wise, lengths of the sections 19 and 20 between same and the counterweight are paid out, this counterweight ensuring suficient friction to ensure the starting of the door,

after which the load upon oppoiste sides of the friction device will ensure the continued closing of the door in the same manner as heretofore referred to in connection with the opening ofthe door. When the door is appreaching the fully closed position, the springs 25, cooperating with the hangar bars of other doors, if there be any loss of adjustment of the blocks 2% as to the door being closed, may be subjected to slightly excess compression. The springs 25, however, acting upon the hanger bar of the door being closed, will not be compressed until after the door has reached its fully closed position, at which time the locking mechanism 14 becomes opertwo door sections and of other doors in the shaft will place such a preponderating load upon the cables or rods 17 and 18 as to make the counterbalancing weight 26 inoperative, to ensure a continued paying out of the sec- .tions 19 and 20 of the cables or rods by the pulleys 30 and 31 toward the weight. The tensioning of the springs 25, however, will permit slight excess movement of the counterweight 26 to ensure the actuation of the limit stop 40, when such be used.

When the two door sections of the door being closed are in engaging relation, the pulleys 30 and 31 will automatically cease to impart any lifting actuation to any of the doors in the shaft, notwithstanding that said pulleys may continue to rotate.

A run of the portions 19 and 20 of the cables or rods in relation to the counterweight, if permitted, will distribute any elongation or stretch of the cables or rods to the portions thereof upon opposite sides of the door opening, and thus reduce the amount of variation of position of the weight 26 by about one-half the stretch. This cond tion, in ca e f a loss of adjustment of the cables or rods upon opposite sides of the door in relation to t e other, will cause an automatic readjustment of the cables or rods in relation to each other, so as to restore this adjustment. The main advantage, however, from the use of the eye bolt or other means 38 is in the installation of the equipment, since it permits the use of a continuous flexible strand forming the portions 19 and 20, which may be run from one one of the sections adjacent the side of the door 0 ening, over the guide sheave 28, about the u l ley 31 and guide sheave 36, through the device 38, back over the guide sheave 35, about the pulley 30, and over the guide sheaves 29 and 27 to the section 17 adjacent the other side of the door opening, the erector being thus enabled to simultaneously adjust the position of both rods at a single oint of the elevator shaft and secure this a justment by the formation of a single splice or 'oint.

i The use of flexible portions an rigid portions in the cables or rods is a mere matter of mechanical expediency, since it is obvious that the rods are not subjected to the same degree of stretch as cables, nor wear to any extent at the various fittings 23. Other constructions, however, may be used to secure the same results.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction herein specified, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

1. An elevator door embodying therein a vertically movable section, counterbalancing means -co-operating therewith, said section being overweighted in relation to said counterbalancing means, stops arresting downward movement of said section when it is in the fully open position, and means whereby said'section may be locked when in the closed position, in combination with cables or rods on opposite sides of said door section, co-operating means carried by said cables or rods and said door section,whereby with the movement of saidcables or rods in one direction whensaid locking mechanism is released, said section may have openin movement therewith, and movement of sai cables or rods in the opposite direction will impart closing movement to said section, a counterweight operative upon said cables or rods, a motor driven friction device actin upon said cables or rods intermediate sai counterweight and said door section, and guides for said rods or cables intermediate said friction device and said counterweight, and intermediate said device and said door section, whereby differential pressure upon said cable or rod on opposite sides of said friction device will make said device inoperations may be stops arresting downward movement of said lower section when said door is in the fully open' position and means whereb said seclocked when in the c osed osition, in combination with cables or ro s on opposite sides of the door, co-operating means carried by said cables or rods and the lower door section, whereby with movement of said cables or rods in one direction when said locking mechanism is released, said sections will have 0 ening movement, and movement of said ca les or rods in the opposite a direction will impart closing movement to said sections, a counterweight operative upon said cables or rods, a motor driven friction device acting upon said cables or rods intermediate said counterweight and said door section, and guides for said rods or cables intermediate said friction-device and said counterweight, and intermediate said device and said door sections, whereby differential pressure upon said cable or red on opposite sides of said friction-device will make said device inoperative to impart further movement to said cables or rods.

3. An elevator door embodying therein a vertically movable section, counterbalancing means co-operating therewith, said section being overweighted in relation to said counterbalancing means, stops arresting downwardly movement of said section when it is in the fully open position, and means whereby said section may be locked when in the closed position, in combination with cables or rods on opposite sides of said door section, co-operating means carried by said cables or rods and said door section, whereby with'the movement of said cables or rods in one direction when said locking mechanism is released, said section may have opening movement therewith, and movement of said cables or rods in the opposite direction will impart closing movement to said section, a counterweight operative upon said cables or rods, a motor driven pinch groove pulley acting upon said cables or rods intermediate said counterweight and said door section, and guides forsaid rods or cables intermediate said pinch groove pulley and said counter-t weight, and intermediate said pulley and said door section, whereby differential pressure upon said cable or rod on opposite sides of said pinch groove pulley will make said pulley inoperative to impart further movement to said cables or rods.

4-. An elevator door embodying therein upper and lower sections vertically movable in opposite directions, means connecting said ioo . sition, in combination with cables or rods on opposite sides of the door, co-operating means carried by said cables or rods and the lower door section, whereby with movement of said cables or rods in one direction when said locking mechanism is released, said sections will have opening movement, and movement of said cables or rods in the opposite direction will impart closing movement to said sections, a counterweight operative upon said cables or rods, a motor driven pinch groove pulley acting upon said cables or rods intermediate said counterweight and said door section, and guides for said rods or cables intermediate saidpinch groove pulley and said counterweight, and intermediate said pulley and saiddoor sections, whereby difl'ere-ntial pressure upon said cable or rod on opposite sides of said pinch groove pulley will make said pulley inoperative to impart further movement to said cables or rods. 4

5. An elevator door embodying therein a vertically movable section, counterbalancing means co-operating therewith, said section being overweighted in relation to said counterbalancing means, stops arresting downward movement of said section when it is in the fully open position, and means whereby said section may be locked when in the closed position, in combination with cables or rods on opposite sides of said door section, co-opcrating means carried by said cables or rods and said door section, whereby with the move-- ment of said cables or rods in one direction when said locking mechanism is released, said section may have opening movement there with, and movement of said cables or rods in the opposite direction will impart closingmovement to said section, a counterweight operative uoon said cables or rods, two motor driven pinch groove pulleys about which said cables or rods respectively pass, and guides for said rods or cables intermediate said pulleys respectively and said counterweight, and intermediate said pulleys and the opposite sides of said door section respectively, whereby differential pressure upon said cable or rod on opposite sides of said pinch groove pulleys will make said pulleys inoperative to impart further movement to said cablds or rods.

6. An elevator door embodying therein upper and lower sections vertically movable in opposite directions, means connecting said sections, the lower of said sections being overweighted in relation to the upper section, stops arresting downward movement of said lower section when said door is in the fully open position, and means whereby said sections may be locked when in the closed position, in combination with cables or rods on opnosite sides of the door, co-operating means carried by said cables or rods and the lower door section, whereby with movement of said cables or rods in one direction when said locking mechanism is released, said sections will have opening movement, and movement of said cables or rods in the opposite direction will impart closing movement to said sections, a counterweight operative upon said cables or rods, two motor driven pinch groove pulleys about which said cables or rods respec-- tively pass, and guides for said rods or cables intermediate said pulleys resppctively and said counterweight, and intermediate said pulleys and the opposite sides of said door section respectively, whereby difierential pressure upon said cable or rod on opposite sides of said pinch groove pulleys will make said pulleys inoperative to impart further movement to said cables or rods.

7. An elevator door embodyingtherein a vertically movable section, counterbalancing means co operating therewith, said section being overweighted in relation to said counterbalancing means, stops arresting downward movement of said section when it is in the fully open position, and means whereby said section may be locked when in the closed position, in combination with cables or rods on opposite sides of said door section, co-operating means carried b sald cables or rods and said door sectionfwhereby with the movement of said cables or rods in one direction when said lock ng mechamsm 1s released, said section may have opening movement there with, and movement of said cables or rods 1nthe opposite direction will impart closing movement to said sectlon, a counterweight, means permitting a. running connectlon between said cables or rods and said counterweight, two motor driven friction devices actmg upon said cables or rods intermediate said counterweight and said door section, and

guides for said cables or rods intermediate said friction devices respectively and said counterweight, and intermediate said devices respectively and opposite sides of said door section may be locked when in the closed position, in combination with cables or rods on opposite sides of said door section, co-operatlng means carried by said cables or rods and said door section, whereb with the move.- ment of said cables or ro s in one direction when said locking mechanlsm is released, said section may-have opening movement therewith, and movement" of said cables or rods in the opposite direction will impart closlng movement to said section, a counterweight,

' said counterweight, and intermediate said pulleys and the opposite sides of said door section respectively, whereby difi'e'rential pressure upon said cable or rod on opposite sides of said pinch groove pulleys will make said pulleys inoperative to impart further movement to said cables or rods.

9. An elevator door embodying therein upper and lower sections vertically movable in opposite directions, means connecting said sections, the lower of said sections being overweighted in relation to the upper section, stops arresting downward movement of said lower section when said door is in the fully open position, means whereby said sections may be locked when in the closed position, in combination with cables or rods on opposite sides ofthe door, co-operating means carried by said cables or rods and the lower door section, whereby with movement of said cables or rods in .one direction when said locking mechanism is released, said sections will have opening movement, and movement of said cables or rods in the opposite direction williimpart closing movement to said sections, a counterweight, means permitting a running connection between said cables or rods and said counterweight, two motor driven pinch groove pulleys about which said cables or rods respectively pass, and guides for said rods or cables intermediate said pulleys respectively and said counterweight, and intermediate said pulleys and the opposite sides of said door section respectively, whereby difierential pressure upon said cable or rod on opposite sides of said pinch groove pulleys will make said pulleys inoperative to impart further movement to said cables or rods.

10. An elevator door embodying therein a vertically movable section, counterbalancing means co-operating therewith, said section being overweighted in relation to said counterbalancing means, stops arresting downward movement of said section when it is in the fully open position, and means whereby said section may be locked when in the closed position, in combination with cables or rods on opposite sides of said door section, cooperating means carried by said cables or rods and said door section, whereby with the movement of said cables or rods in one direction when said locking mechanism is released, said section may have opening movement therewith, and movement of sad cables or rods in the opposite direction will impart closing movement to said section, a counter weight operative upon said cables or rods, 0. motor driven friction device acting upon said cables or rods intermediate said counterweight and said door section, guides for said rods or cables intermediate said friction device and said counterweight, and intermediate said device and said door section, whereby differential pressure upon said cable or rod on opposite sides of said friction device will make said device inoperative to impart further movement to said cables or rods, limit stop switches controlling the electrical power to said motor driven friction device, and means carried by said counterweight co-operating with said switches. i

11. An elevator door embodying therein a vertically movable section, a laterally extending hanger bar thereon, counterbalancing means co-operating with said section, said section being overweighted in relation to said counterbalancing means, stops arresting downward movement of said section when it is in the fully open position, and means whereby said section may be locked when in the closed position, in combination with cables or rods on opposite side of said door section, blocks upon said cables or rods respectively, adj acent'said door section and below said hanger bar, springs interposed between said blocks and said hanger bar, whereby with the movement of said cables or rods in one direction when said locking mechanism is released, said section may have opening movement therewith, and movement of said cables or rods in the opposite direction will impart closing movement to said section, a counterweight operative upon said cables or rods, 2. motor driven friction device acting upon said cables or rods, and guides for said rods or cables intermediate said friction device and said counterweight, and intermediate said device and said door section, whereby differential pressure upon said cable or rod on opposite sides of said friction device will make said device inoperative to impart further movement to said cables or rods.

12. An elevator door embodying therein upper and lower sections vertically movable in opposite directions, means connecting said sections, including a hanger bar upon said lowersection, the lower of said sections being overweighted in relation to the upper section, stops arresting downward movement of said lower section when said door is in the fully open position, and means whereby said sections may be locked when in the closed position, in combination with cables or rods on opposite sides of the door, blocks upon said cables or rods respectively, adjacent said door section and below said, hanger bar,

springs interposed between said blocks and said hanger bar, whereby with'movement of said cables or rods in one direction when said locking mechanism is released, said sections will have opening movement, and movement of said cables or rods in the opposite direction will impart'closing movement to said sections, a counterweight operative upon said cables or rods, a motor driven pinch groove pulley acting upon said cables or rods, and guides for said rods or cables intermediate saidpinch groove pulley and said eounterweight, and intermediate said pulley and said means connecting said sections, including a laterally extending hanger bar upon the lower section, the lower of said sections being overweighted in relation to the upper sections, stops engageable by said hanger bar when the door is in the fully open position, whereby further downward movement of said lower section is prevented, and means whereby said sections may be locked when in the closed position, in combination with cables or rods on opposite sides of all of said doors, blocks upon said cables or rods adjacent the hanger bar upon each lower section, springs interposed between said blocks and said hanger bars respectively, whereby with movement of said cables or rods in. one direction when said locking mechanism is released, said sections will have opening movement, and movement of said cables or rods in the opposite direction will impart closing movement to said sections, a counterweight operative upon said cables or rods, a motor driven friction device acting upon said cables or rods, and guides for said rods or cables intermediate said friction device and said counterweight, and intermediate said device and said door sections, whereby diflercntial pressure upon said cable or rod on opposite sides of said friction device will make said device inoperative to impart further movement to said cables or rods.

14. Au elevator door installation embodying therein a sequence of elevator doors, one above the other, in a shaft, each of said doors comprising upper and lower sections vertically movable in opposite directions, means connecting said sections including a laterally extending hanger bar upon the lower section, the lower of said sections being overweighted in relation to the upper sections, stops engageable by said hanger bar when the door is in the fully open position, whereby further downward movement of said lower section is prevented, and means wherehanger bar upon each lower section, springs interposed between said blocks and said hanger bars respectively, whereby with movement of said cables or rods in one direction when said locking mechanism is released, said sections will have opening movement, and movement of said cables or rods in the opposite direction will impart closing movement to said sections. a counterweight, means permitting a running connection between said cables'or rods and said counterweight, two motor driven pinch groove pulleys about which said cables or rods respectively pass,- and guides for said rods or cables intermediate said pulleys respectively and said counterweight, and intermediate said pulleys and the opposite sides ofsaid door section respectively, whereby diiferential pressure upon said cable or rod on opposite sides of said pinch groove pulleys will make said'pulleys inoperative to impart further movement to said cables or rods.

15. An elevator door installation embodying therein a sequence of elevator doors, one above the other, in a shaft, each of said doors comprising upper and lower sections vertically movable in opposite directions, means connecting said sections, including a laterally extending hanger bar upon the lower section, the lower 'of said sections being overweighted in relation to the upper sections, stops engageable by said hanger bar when the door is in the fully open position, whereby further downward movement of said lower section is prevented, and means whereby said sections may be locked when in the closed position, in combination with cables or rods on opposite sides of all of said doors, blocks upon said cables or rods adjacent the hanger bar upon each lower section, springs interposed between said blocks and said hanger bars respectively, whereby with movement of said cables or rods in one direction when said lockin g mechanism is released, said sections will have opening movement, and movement of said cables or rods in the opposite direction will impart. closing movement to said sections, a

counterweight, means permitting a running connection between said cables or rods and said counterweight, two motor driven pinch groove pulleys about which said cables or rods respectively pass, guides for said rods or cables intermediate said pulleys respectively and said counterweight, and intermediate said pulleys and the opposite sides of said door section respectively, whereby differential pressure upon said cable or rod on opposite sides of said pinch groove pulleys will make said pulleys inoperativeto impart further movement to said cables or rods,

limit stop switches controlling the eleo-trical power to said motor driven iction device,

ROBERT S. PEELLE. 

